News List

Nov. 27, 2013
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

Richardson to Host Miss Texas Pageant in 2014
The Eisemann Center and the Renaissance Dallas/Richardson Hotel in Richardson will host the Miss Texas Pageant in July 2014, under an agreement signed Tuesday.

The pageant will take place July 5, 2014, preceded by several days of preliminary competition and other related events.

The Miss Texas competition was founded in 1936 by a group of civic minded citizens concerned about higher education and is a preliminary to the Miss America pageant. Hundreds of young women participate each year in the local pageants, culminating in the selection of local finalists who vie for the Miss Texas title.

Tickets on Sale Monday for Willie and the Wheel at the Eisemann Center
Texas music icon Willie Nelson will appear with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, at the Eisemann Center. They will play selections from their 2009 CD, “Willie and the Wheel,” along with other classics.

Tickets cost $85 to $150. Tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m. Monday at eisemanncenter.com, with walk-up ticket sales beginning at 10 a.m. For more information, call 972-744-4650.

Shoe Drive Collects Nearly 2,000 Pairs of Shoes for NETWORK
The Richardson community donated 1,978 pairs of shoes to NETWORK of Community Ministries through the “Gathering Soles for NETWORK” shoe drive. The three-week effort brought in as many shoes as the nonprofit normally receives in an entire year.

NETWORK; the City of Richardson; Methodist Richardson Medical Center; Texas Instruments; Richland College; Richardson Girl Scout Troops 2120, 2477 and 9409; and the University of Texas at Dallas Office of Student Volunteerism were partners on the shoe drive. Donated shoes will be distributed through the Richardson-North Dallas Family Clothing Center, operated by NETWORK.

The "Gathering Soles for NETWORK” shoe drive was held in conjunction with “Ask Not…the Dallas County Day of Service,” which is bringing communities throughout Dallas County together to honor the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his death.

Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule

In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday, City facilities and services will operate according to the following schedule.

Sanitation Schedule/Recycle Make Up DaysThere will be NO solid waste pick up or special pick up Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28-29.

Recycle collection days affected by holiday

Make-up days

Thursday, Nov. 28

Wednesday, Nov. 27

Friday, Nov. 29

Saturday, Nov. 30

Christmas Parade, Santa’s Village Opens Next Weekend
The 42nd annual Christmas Parade will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and travel north on Plano Road from Richardson Square to Apollo Road. “Candy Canes and Christmas Carols” is this year’s theme.

Santa’s Village, a miniature town with 16 tiny dwellings on the north side of City Hall, will open for the season at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, following the awards ceremony for the Christmas Parade at 5 p.m. and the City’s official tree lighting. Santa’s Village will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8, 12 to 15 and 19 to 22.

New Ordinance Requires Special Permits for Electronic Cigarette Establishments
The City Council on Monday approved a zoning ordinance amendment that requires businesses that primarily sell electronic cigarettes to obtain a special permit before opening in Richardson. The permit would allow the Council to review requests for new stores on a case-by-case basis to prevent clustering and ensure location appropriateness in keeping with the community’s retail development standards.

In recent months, Richardson has seen an increase of businesses selling electronic cigarettes. Existing businesses may continue to operate, and only new businesses will be required to obtain a special permit.

Watch a work session presentation about the changes at bit.ly/16eIhpn.

Council Approves Purchase of Next Generation 9-1-1 System
On Monday the City Council approved the purchase of a Next Generation 9-1-1 System that will have the ability in the future to receive text messages, pictures and video as they become available from the cellular providers, as well as handle phone calls. The new system will replace one that is seven years old and unable to handle future capabilities such as text messages or other forms of communication available on most cellphones and other mobile devices.

Installation is expected to take place in early 2014.

Watch a work session presentation about the new system at bit.ly/1icNXuN.

Richardson Today to be Mailed
The December edition of Richardson Today will soon begin arriving in mailboxes. The latest edition focuses on the holidays and features a story on Santa’s Village and its volunteers. Other top stories focus on the annual Christmas Parade, the “Gathering Soles for NETWORK” shoe drive and the annual EDGE Awards. It also includes a full-page calendar of holiday events in Richardson.

Richardson Today is mailed to every residence in the city and is also available at the Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers, the Senior Center, City Hall and at the Richardson Public Library. An interactive edition of Richardson Today is also accessible at cor.net/richardsontoday. Ask your local mail carrier if you live in the city and do not receive your copy.

Fire Department Conducting Toy and Food Drive
The Richardson Fire Department is conducting a toy and food drive through Dec. 13 to benefit NETWORK of Community Ministries. New and gently used toys for children of all ages and non-perishable food items may be dropped off at any of the Richardson Fire Stations, City Hall or the Service Center.

Tales for Tails at Library
Children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to read to dogs from Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Richardson Public Library. The free program will take place in the Children’s Program Room. For more information, call the library at 972-744-4350.

Richardson Community Band to Perform at Senior Center
The Richardson Community Band will perform a free holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Senior Center. All ages are invited to attend. The band will also provide entertainment at the opening night of Santa’s Village at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, on the north side of City Hall. For more information, visit richardsoncommunityband.org.

The Nutcracker to be Performed at Eisemann Center
Chamberlain Performing Arts will present “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Eisemann Center’s Hill Performance Hall. Tickets cost $10 to $100 and are available at eisemanncenter.com or by calling 972-744-4650. Learn more at chamberlainperformingarts.org.

The King’s Singers Christmas Coming to Eisemann Center
One of the world’s most celebrated a cappella ensembles, The King’s Singers returns to the Eisemann Center for a holiday show with new arrangements of Christmas songs. The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as part of the Eisemann Center Presents series.

Tickets cost $38 to $55 and are available at eisemanncenter.com or by calling 972-744-4650.

Hawks Junior Golf Team
The HAWKS Junior Golf Team recently finished in first place in the Northern Texas PGA Team Golf Champions Series held Nov. 2 at Gleneagles Country Club. The six-member team finished with a one-stroke victory over three other teams at the championship event.

The HAWKS competed in monthly golf tournaments starting in February and earned enough points to become one of eight teams in the playoffs. The team practices at the City of Richardson’s Sherrill Park Golf Course.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week

Meet Moo! She is an 80 pound two year old Heeler mix. Moo was diagnosed with entropion, in which a portion of the eyelid is folded in causing eyelashes or hair to irritate the surface of the eye. She had surgery to correct the problem and is now ready for her close-up and her forever home!